OC-STAMP promotes osteoclast fusion for pathogenic bone resorption in periodontitis via up-regulation of permissive fusogen CD9

Cell fusion–mediated formation of multinuclear osteoclasts (OCs) plays a key role in bone resorption. It is reported that 2 unique OC-specific fusogens [i.e., OC-stimulatory transmembrane protein (OC-STAMP) and dendritic cell–specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP)], and permissive fusogen CD9, are involved in OC fusion. Contrast to DC-STAMP of which knockout (KO) mice show osteopetrotic phenotype, OC-STAMP-KO mice show no difference in systemic bone mineral density. Nonetheless, according to the ligature-induced periodontitis model, significantly lower level of bone resorption was found in OC-STAMP-KO mice compared to WT mice. Anti–OC-STAMP-neutralizing mAb down-modulated in vitro: 1) the emergence of large multinuclear tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase–positive cells, 2) pit formation, and 3) mRNA and protein expression of CD9, but not DC-STAMP, in receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-stimulated OC precursor cells (OCps). While anti–DC-STAMP-mAb also down-regulated RANKL-induced osteoclastogen...